If you can make Sigil better, what would you do at the first place?

[ForsCream]

Recently I am compiling an EPUB file, but find that using the Sigil is even difficult than what I thought.

So if get a chance to make Sigil better, what would you do immediately?

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by ForsCream

So if get a chance to make Sigil better, what would you do immediately?

Vorpal Sigil. Epubs built snicker-snack!

[Billi]

Originally Posted by ForsCream

Recently I am compiling an EPUB file, but find that using the Sigil is even difficult than what I thought.

So if get a chance to make Sigil better, what would you do immediately?

Before trying to improve the software I would try to improve my knowledge about the software.

[HarryT]

You've been a member long enough to know that Sigil questions belong in the Sigil forum. Moved.

[Zetmolm]

If you want to compile an Epub file using Sigil, the prerequisite is that you understand HTML and CSS. Once you do, Sigil is quite easy to use.

If you don't want to learn HTML and CSS, Sigil is not for you. You can still compile Epubs, but you need to do it in another way. E.g. prepare your book in Word, and then convert it to Epub in Calibre. You may or may not be happy with the outcome.

For the rest, the question you are asking is pretty useless. If you followed the discussions on the Sigil forum a bit you'll know that the problem with Sigil is that there are no developers who would pick up our enhancement requests.

[Toxaris]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Vorpal Sigil. Epubs built snicker-snack!

[mrmikel]

Atlantis Word Processor or Jutoh allow you to work in a word processor atmosphere prior to publishing the file as an epub.

These programs both have limitations, so if you are looking for a easy program that will create exceedingly complex layouts or include tables, you are pretty much out of luck.

But you are likely to be out of luck in an entirely different way. These sorts of layouts are not done well or predictably with the epub format. This is because epubs can have their text resized at will by the reader and the text reflows as the size changes.

For fixed layout, pdf is best, but is not a format which sold by the big distributors.

[ForsCream]

Originally Posted by Zetmolm

If you want to compile an Epub file using Sigil, the prerequisite is that you understand HTML and CSS. Once you do, Sigil is quite easy to use.

If you don't want to learn HTML and CSS, Sigil is not for you. You can still compile Epubs, but you need to do it in another way. E.g. prepare your book in Word, and then convert it to Epub in Calibre. You may or may not be happy with the outcome.

For the rest, the question you are asking is pretty useless. If you followed the discussions on the Sigil forum a bit you'll know that the problem with Sigil is that there are no developers who would pick up our enhancement requests.

The reason why I opened this thread is, my company might start a project to develop an EPUB Maker software, as we think Sigil is not easy to use. And there are more and more indie authors at the mean time.

Yes many eBook retailers accept .doc file, but most of us can't make our book beautiful with .doc.

So I want to collect some ideas for an ideal EPUB maker software.

[mrmikel]

Look at this thread:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=191270

It chronicles the trials and tribulations of a company with exactly the same ambition.

As your aims have nothing to do with Sigil, except as to what you don't like, you would be better off to ask these questions in the epub forum.

This forum there chronicles Atlantis' efforts in that direction:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48775

You should be aware it has never been the aim of Sigil to try to be a composition program for epubs, but pro level and serious amateur tool to finish epubs created elsewhere. As such it requires knowledge of CSS and HTML which is not possessed by everyone, though it is not hard for someone serious to gain it.

A user, Toxaris, has created an add on for Word on Windows which is available on these forums.

You appear to be one in a long line of seekers of the "Holy Grail" of epub creation software. It does not exist and will not likely ever exist because of scattered requirements of the different formats and devices. For instance, how do you create a table in a device like the early Kindles, that do not support it at all?

Sigil takes a million lines of code to do what it does. How many million are you willing to write in order to go beyond it?

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by ForsCream

The reason why I opened this thread is, my company might start a project to develop an EPUB Maker software, as we think Sigil is not easy to use. And there are more and more indie authors at the mean time.

Yes many eBook retailers accept .doc file, but most of us can't make our book beautiful with .doc.

So I want to collect some ideas for an ideal EPUB maker software.

You want "ideal" ePUB maker software?

Let's see:

1. InDesign + ePUB plug-in;
2. Jutoh;
3. Calibre (sorta);
4. Atlantis Word Processor;
5. Open Office + the OO plug-in ePUB-maker;
6. Oxygen;
7. Blue Griffon;
8. Pages, export to ePUB;
9. iAuthor (kinda);
10. Toxaris' ePUB Tools program, which works off of Word,
11. Oh, and, yeah, Sigil. Which doesn't include...
12. All the other "insta-ePUB-maker" websites out there, like "Draft2Digital," etc.

There are plenty of programs out there. (ePUBStar and the others included. If I forgot someone's program, please don't be offended.) For that matter, let's not forget the "Meatgrinder," Smashwords' online usage of the Calibre API, or NookPress, which would allow someone to upload a Word file and download a pre-made ePUB which could be tweaked in something like Sigil.

As mrmikel points out, Sigil carries a hefty million lines of code. There are plenty of programs for the least-tecchie (Jutoh) to the most-tecchie (probably Sigil) and everything in-between (AWP, OO + plug-in, Blue Griffon).

What nobody has managed to make yet is the Harry Potter ePUB-maker. Take one Word file or word-processing file, whether created properly or not, whether styled or not, using any codes, combination of codes, tags, etc., and uber-magically wave a wand and say "EPUBliarmus!" and make an ePUB that will pass all the ePUBchecks out there, from Lulu (with ePUBcheck 1.x-something to iBooks with ePUBcheck 3.x-something), work on all devices, and, oh, yeah, also convert (by Hermione's magic potion) into Kindlebooks, with all the requisite fallback styling for all the now-10-different Kindles with massively different screen resolutions and capabilities.

Oh, and let's not forget: must run on PC's, Macs and Unix.

Now, if you can make THAT, well...you'll probably make almost as much as Sigil has, which is almost nothing. We've seen dozens if not hundreds of people come through here, all seeking the Holy Grail of a super-easy ePUB-maker, and they all want Calibre-easy and, oh, yeah...FREE. Most of the people we see won't even pay $30-$40USD for something like Jutoh or AWP. So, if you want to invest the time and money...great, go for it. Nobody here will stop you, that's for certain. If you're looking to make money, I gotta say, from what I've seen, you're barking up the wrong tree.

Good luck.

Hitch

[DaleDe]

Nice list. To which I might add (from our wiki):

Framemaker + RoboHelp
Word + RoboHelp
IGP Digital publisher
Atova
3D Issue

and in Beta
PubCoder
ViewPorter

Some of the list of yours + mine advertize ePub3 but the list is a bit shorter for that. I am sure there are some more.

Dale

[Toxaris]

Originally Posted by Hitch

What nobody has managed to make yet is the Harry Potter ePUB-maker. Take one Word file or word-processing file, whether created properly or not, whether styled or not, using any codes, combination of codes, tags, etc., and uber-magically wave a wand and say "EPUBliarmus!" and make an ePUB that will pass all the ePUBchecks out there, from Lulu (with ePUBcheck 1.x-something to iBooks with ePUBcheck 3.x-something), work on all devices, and, oh, yeah, also convert (by Hermione's magic potion) into Kindlebooks, with all the requisite fallback styling for all the now-10-different Kindles with massively different screen resolutions and capabilities.

This is hilarious!

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Toxaris

This is hilarious!

. TY, Toxaris.

I must say, the more I think about "EPUBliarmus!," the more I like it. I may make it a byline or something here on MR. Next time we get someone who wants something impossible or hard-made-easy, that may be my new stock answer. ;-)

Hitch

[Jellby]

Originally Posted by Hitch

What nobody has managed to make yet is the Harry Potter ePUB-maker. Take one Word file or word-processing file, whether created properly or not, whether styled or not, using any codes, combination of codes, tags, etc., and uber-magically wave a wand and say "EPUBliarmus!" and make an ePUB that will pass all the ePUBchecks out there, from Lulu (with ePUBcheck 1.x-something to iBooks with ePUBcheck 3.x-something), work on all devices, and, oh, yeah, also convert (by Hermione's magic potion) into Kindlebooks, with all the requisite fallback styling for all the now-10-different Kindles with massively different screen resolutions and capabilities.

I could make that one if I find the mood... as long as you don't add "and contain the text and formatting of the original file"

[Jellby]

Originally Posted by ForsCream

Recently I am compiling an EPUB file, but find that using the Sigil is even difficult than what I thought.

So if get a chance to make Sigil better, what would you do immediately?

I haven't really used Sigil, but from what I know it looks pretty easy to use. If you want to contribute to Sigil's development, what is it you think could be better in Sigil?

If you are just making a general question to stir up discussion, then I have no answer